The available evidence indicates the use of electronic surveillance practices that go beyond traditional, targeted surveillance for intelligence purposes in five EU countries: the UK, Sweden, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Each member state is examined with the following criteria in mind: the basic technical features of large-scale surveillance programmes; stated purpose of programmes, targets and types of data collected; actors involved in collection and use, including evidence of cooperation with the private sector; cooperation or exchange of data with foreign intelligence services, including the NSA; and the legal framework and oversight governing the execution of the programme(s).

As we laid out in our Divided We Stand briefing, agreement among the EU 28 on how to respond to Russia’s role in the Ukraine crisis is not easy to come by. And if the doorstep remarks of EU Foreign Ministers arriving in Brussels this morning is anything to go by — that trend won’t be changing any time soon.

As Azerbaijan takes up the six-month chair of the Council of Europe, the deteriorating human-rights situation in the Caucasus state exposes its disregard for its rights obligations and risks further complication by the crisis in Ukraine

According to the organisers, more than 90 percent of voters in the two referendums held on Sunday in eastern Ukraine cast their ballots in favour of secession from Kiev. Observers reported numerous irregularities. Russia continues to hold the reins in the conflict, some commentators write. Others point out that Kiev and the West gave the separatists a boost with their ignorant policies

Following Sunday’s independence referendums the separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine have requested annexation by Russia. Moscow recognised the results of the votes on Monday. Ukraine is breaking up while the EU looks on helplessly, some commentators warn. Others believe that the stiffer sanctions passed by the EU on Monday will ultimately be effective.

DONETSK, Ukraine – Ignoring warnings from government officials in Kiev, pro-Russia separatists held a referendum on Sunday in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, allowing voters to choose “self-rule.”

Hosted by the European University Institute in Florence, candidates for the European Commission president left many of the observers in the audience wondering what the real political message of the four contenders actually was.

In a new report published this morning we assess the track record of the European parliament and conclude that it has failed as an institution on a number of fronts. Although many individual MEPs work hard and conscientiously for their constituents, the European Parliament as a whole has failed to gain popular democratic legitimacy. Still, given that the EP now has a lot of power to decide law that impacts on people’s every day life – from working hours to browsing the web – there’s a lot of reason to vote in the European elections.

A discussion of European surveillance programmes cannot be reduced to the question of a balance between data protection versus national security. It has to be framed in terms of collective freedoms and democracy.

Germany has been engaging in large-scale surveillance and exchange of communications data with international partners, despite the existence of a strong constitutional and legal framework for the protection of privacy.